A Case Study on iPad Use in Technical Writing Courses

Includes 2 files: the paper is the capstone thesis and a poster that accompanies the capstone thesis.This study reviews the impact of exploring tablets as a new educational tool at the University of Minnesota in Department of Writing Studies. Part of this study reviews the impact of exploring tablets based on previous research. A recent article by Penn St ate states that Penn State’s Education Technology Services (ETS) ordered 40 iPad tablet computers for faculty and students to use in a technical writing course. Students used Google Docs and other word processing apps on tablet computers to complete their assignments. Tablets and technology have a significant impact on learning in technical writing, as well significant change to instructional plans. Another study in 2011 provides a similar topic using iPads as a tool for education. Researchers have explored the impact of iPads in school and how access to and use of iPads will change the learning and teaching strategies in schools. At the University of Minnesota, I conducted two surveys: a web based student and staff questionnaire sent through Twitter and a Facebook group, and interviews with Ph.D students and graduate students in the Master of Science Scientific and Technical Communication program in the Department of Writing Studies . The iPad has a significant and positive impact on learning and teaching in technical communication courses, but there have been limitations in writing processes